History of globalization I

HUM-427(a)

Lecturer(s) :

Language:

English

Summary

This course is intended to contribute to the students' knowledge of crucial issues related to the phenomenon known as globalization, namely: humanitarianism, global health and development.
The course critically examines a number of practices, the politics, interests and visions of actors.

Content

Humanitarianism, global health, and development during the 20th century

Globalization and global inequality have been and still are central issues of the 20th and beginning of the 21st century. This course will concentrate on three major topics related to such phenomena: humanitarianism, global health, and development. The three topics concerned benevolent deeds undertaken beyond national frontiers on behalf of individuals, communities, groups or entire nations in dire straits by a variety of actors (i.e. organizations governmental and non-governmental associations, philanthropic foundations).They will be examined bearing in mind local, international, and global contexts.

The course will focus on humanitarian, global health and development actors (non-governmental organizations such as Médecins sans Frontière; international organizations; philanthropic organizations, for example the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation). We will visit some of these institutions. We will also study these actors' tools, such as photography, movie, mass campaign vaccinations. We will pay attention to conflict and post-conflict, imperial/colonial and post-colonial periods, during which development became a politically, economically, and socially relevant international issue.

The course draws attention to the importance of historical perspectives, showing that global health or humanitarian operations or development projects are not inventions of the post-Cold War period but have a longer history. Our aim is to show continuities and ruptures between then and now. Case studies will be favored in this class. The emphasis will also be put on extra-European countries.

The course is organized in two parts: a first part, which provides a general overview of the topics, and a second part during which students work on their projects.

Keywords

History - Gobalisation - Development - Humanitarianism - Public Health.

Learning Prerequisites

Important concepts to start the course

Abilty to speak and read English

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, the student must be able to:

Define and construct a case study using as a starting point a general question.

Formulate a specific question related to the topic of the course

Situate the question temporally and spatially.

Identify, analyse and explain the principal characteristics of your question

Respond appropriately to a critical comment

Draft a coherent argument.

Give an oral presentation explaining the issues relevant to the subject of the written report.

Identify and defend, orally, two important points raised in the written report.

Formulate and suggest constructive criticism of another report.

Transversal skills

Set objectives and design an action plan to reach those objectives.

Communicate effectively with professionals from other disciplines.

Give feedback (critique) in an appropriate fashion.

Demonstrate the capacity for critical thinking

Take feedback (critique) and respond in an appropriate manner.

Access and evaluate appropriate sources of information.

Make an oral presentation.

Write a scientific or technical report.

Teaching methods

The first semester will consist of ex-cathedra sessions, visit to a museum and the definition of the project. The second semester will consist of a project that the students will work in groups of two or three.

Expected student activities

Class attendance; reading and analysis of a scientific article; written report and oral presentations. Further details will be provided at the start of the academic year.

Assessment methods

Evaluation on a semester basis (grade associated to 3 ECTS). During the first semester, the evaluation will cover one small report on a fieldwork and critical assessment of a museum visit.

Supervision

Assistants

Yes

Others

The teacher and the assistant can be contacted at all times by e-mail.

Resources

Bibliography

A space will be available on the Moodle platform.A bibliography list will be distributed at the beginning of the course.